United States v. Claude Nolan Green, United States of America v. Franklin Johnson

The appellants were indicted, tried by a jury, and convicted of transporting and causing to be transported two females from Portland, Oregon, to Yakima, Washington, for the purpose of prostitution in violation of the Mann Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2421 . We affirm.

BACKGROUND

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, it appears that in March of 1976, appellant Johnson accompanied appellant Green from Yakima to Portland to bring back another car owned by Green. There, near an area of the city known for prostitution, they met two girls who worked as prostitutes. The four exchanged telephone numbers and, later that evening, appellants picked up the two girls at the Sheraton Hotel and took them to an apartment where all four spent the night.

Before departing Portland, the appellants told both of the girls that they could get “bigger and better things” in Yakima. While it is clear that all four simultaneously departed Portland, there is conflicting testimony regarding the exact seating arrangements. Both of the appellants testified that they rode in one car and that the two girls rode in the other. Each of the girls, on the other hand, testified that she departed…